This is our First Day in the UK

Cheerio!  We made it safely across the pond, youll be very relieved to know.  Here is the trek we made on our first day (Sunday):

So we started in London and ended in Cardiff, Wales.  Our trip so far has been all countryside (sheep in the road so far: 0) and it has been enthralling.  It is so amazingly LUSH here.  The flora is thick and absolutely everywhere.  I've become quite enamored with the wisteria, specifically. 

One of our first stops was Hampton Court Palace on the Thames just outside of London.  This was the palace of Cardinal Woolsey (tight with Henry VIII), circa 1514.The gardens were so beautiful..

My sister Janie in front of the palace.

Bridge over Thames behind palace...

Janie and my Mom splashing in the Thames.  My sister's first swan encounter...

These displays are everywhere.  The UK is very excited about the impending nuptials.  As am I!

Umm, me and Prince Harry.

I got the inside scoop on the mystery wedding gown, don't hate.

Wine me up, indeed!

Our next stop was Brighton, apparently the Panama City of England.  Frommer's couldn't quite make up its mind..."Delightful, yet tacky.  Quite disgusting, really, yet genteel."  Like a really wordy Hooters tshirt.  It was a little Coney-Islandish, but everyone was having a ball on holiday.

My Mom and I on the streets in Brighton.

We stopped and had tapas and sangria in a precious little Spanish restaurant.  My sister is a high school spanish teacher and enjoyed her lingering conversation with the sweet little owner.  

 Some street art in Brighton...I have yet to run across any Banksy, but have seen some pretty cool stuff.

Then we drove on to Salisbury and Stonehenge which was an amazing sight to behold.  It was one of those things that I didn't think i really cared about seeing, could take or leave, but was truly overwhelming in person.

 

We continued to Bath where the views were spectacular.  Our schedule the first day was a little ambitious and night fell on us too suddenly.  We weren't able to get to the Jane Austen museum in Bath and had to jet to Cardiff, Wales where we were staying. 

The Church Guesthouse in Cardiff.

    It's really a shame to have selected such amazing little B&Bs and spend so little time in the actual first B (and skip the second B altogether...grrrr).  

 A few things about the UK that stand out so far:

1) Everyone is incredibly kind and helpful, and (surprisingly?) has a wonderful sense of humor!
2) An after dinner drink is called a 'digestive'. A bandaid is a 'plaster'.
3) If you choose to drive here, you are taking your life into your own hands.  Not that I would know this because I am a complete wuss and have let my mother and sister do all the driving.  Apparently the jig is up today as they've mentioned they are over it and I'll be behind the wheel come sunrise (it's really early...I'm having a lof of trouble with the sleeping).

More when our Internet access stabilizes...??